In simple terms, bento is a take out or home cooked meal, packed in special lunch boxes called bento. Bento boxes, be it lacquered wood or plastic, come in a vareity of attractive designs and colours. There are several compartments in a bento box, with some even having stacked layers.

Different types of food are arranged in these individual compartments, which will then be wrapped in cloth or a special bag to include a pair of chopsticks, drink flask, napkin and for those who prefer Western utensils – knife, spoon or fork.

Bento making for children has grown into a huge hit among Asians because the aesthetic pleasing food is a source of motivation for young children to eat food that they would otherwise ignore, such as vegetables. Enthusiastic mommies enjoy creating adorable and attractive cartoon, animal and human characters from nature using edible food colourings and cookie cutters. These adorable bite-sized meals are a feast to the eyes as well as the stomach. They also provide nutritional values such as carbohydrate, protein and fat.